# data[].attributes.body
The unit materials Dadirri, Miriam -Rose “Inner deep listening and Quite still awareness”, “Ngangikurungkurr- Sound of the Deep”, inspired me to make use of deep listening and take in my surroundings slowly (Ungunmerr-Baumann, 2002). With this in mind I made sure that I was going on the walk with no thoughts in my head and absorb the nature and surroundings around me.

I went walk to my neighbourhood park in a bright sunny day.  After the cold winter, and rain over the last couple of days, the sunlight made me feel happy and fresh. I parked my car opposite the park and began to walk down the path. As I continued down the park, the traffic sounds were replaced by the sounds of various birds. The sounds of nature, the cool breeze, and the warm sunlight made me feel like I was far away from home by myself, relaxing in nature. Eventually I could see the wetlands, and crossed a bridge to get next to the main pond where I could sit and spend some time. While I was sitting down, I took in the movement and sounds of the tree branches in the wind. I heard the birds singing and swimming in the water. There were so many sights, smells, and sounds that allowed me to explore my imagination and create a story and bring me happiness and calmness.

Reading all the unit materials, and experiencing this mindful walk with deep listening, I noticed, first-hand the positives of such an activity. As a pre-service teacher, I have been inspired to incorporate more natural materials within this indoor play space settings. Furthermore, I will encourage and support the children to explore the outdoor play space with natural loose parts. I will also provide the resources for the families so that they can also experience the benefits and importance of outdoor, natural play.

# data[].attributes.body
A imaginative story - Bubbles and his dance

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Assignment 2 -   2008 Creative Response (Sujatha Ragupathy)

# data[].attributes.body
The songs of the birds, and breeze through trees, and the sounds of other living animals such as frogs and insects, made me realise I was surrounded by life. I could imagine myself moving freely with the sounds, and this is what the little fish in my story did – followed the rhythm of the outdoor environment. Gardners’ theory of creative play explains that play in the natural environment allows children to develop their intelligence naturally, and feel freely (Wilson, 2018).  I experienced this ability to think freely during the walk.

I was encouraged by the positive effects of natural sounds, to implement these in my emerging teaching practice.  I will provide resources and opportunities for the children to create their music, in a natural way. Bush kinder, does this as we record the sounds of the environment and discuss the sounds we heard on the walk within the classroom.  By doing this the children can take in nature, and also reflect on their experience with nature later on.

# data[].attributes.body
There were also numerous aspects of movement in my walk. I noticed the birds dancing in the sky, ground and water. In particular the elegant and seamless movement of the swans caught my eyes. The reeds in the ponds of the wetlands, and the branches of the trees also moved with the breeze, to a similar rhythm.

Within the creative dance play for early childhood, the unit materials described that children can dance-play themselves (Delafield-Butt, J. T., & Trevarthen, C, 2022). All they need is enough space, time, and freedom (Delafield-Butt, J. T., & Trevarthen, C, 2022). I could envision their interaction within this environment. As a pre-service teacher, I can provide the children with opportunities to dance indoor and outdoor. We can also make use of digital music and music made by themselves.

# data[].attributes.body
The bright sunlight on the water, the dramatic movements of the crazy ducks running around, and the birds dancing in the sky. Together all these aspects made this a vibrant and dramatic scenario. The Wilson’s reading materials demonstrated the value of the creative play, and the fact that young children need a time and place to play (Wilson, 2018). Such play is crucial to develop their creativity and is favourable for their academic results in future.

In my practice, I will provide opportunities for the children to explore their imagination according to their interest in an early childhood setting. As a pre-service teacher, I can create an environment that is as dynamic as the one in nature, or support them to explore nature. From my nature walk, I saw the amount of dramatic play that was occurring, and the endless imagination that can happen in nature and this encourages me to expose the children to the same drama.

# data[].attributes.headline
                                                            References 

# data[].attributes.subject
                                                            References 

# data[].attributes.body
Delafield-Butt, J. T., & Trevarthen, C. (2022, April 4). Creative dance for early childhood |. | Creative Dance Teaching Ideas and Resources.  https://danceteachingideas.com/creative-dance-movement-for-toddlers/

The school without wall. (2018). YouTube. Retrieved September 11, 2023, from https://youtu.be/vNAKhgATlAo.

ungunmerr-Baumann, M.-R. ungunmerr. (2002). Dadirri - a reflection by Miriam - Rose  ungunmerr- Baumann. http://dadirri.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Dadirri-Inner-        Deep-Listening-M-R-Ungunmerr-Bauman-Refl1.pdf

Wilson, R. A. (2018). Nature and young children: Encouraging creative play and learning in
Natural Environments. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.